Enumclaw’s spring athletes contend with winter weather

Emily Miller is back for her senior season of tennis at Enumclaw High. This file photo is from a match in spring 2018.

TRACK AND FIELD

The Hornet program lost some familiar and successful faces due to graduation. Departing from the boys team was Connery McLaughlin, last year’s state champion in the javelin; lost from the girls side were high jumper Emmie Neu and distance ace Hunter Storm, who went to state in two events.

But that’s not to say coach Janell Stussy is without options this spring.

Returning to the boys team are two seniors who advanced to last year’s state meet: Carson Christensen, who placed eighth in the long jump, and Bryson Engebretsen, who placed 13th in the pole vault and also competed in the 110-meter hurdles.

The track and field squad jumps into action Thursday, hosting Kennedy Catholic and Kent-Meridian. The meet, on the EHS campus, begins at 3:30 p.m.

BOYS SOCCER

Veteran coach Shawn Tobius and his Hornets have a pair of nonleague contests under their belts, along with a North Puget Sound League opener at Auburn.

The league season continues Friday when the Hornets head to Auburn Mountainview and March 19 with a home game against Federal Way. Both start at 7 p.m.

The Hornets will be looking to improve upon a dismal 2018 campaign. The team finish with an overall record of 1-15, scoring just 10 goals while allowing 64.

Leading returnees include senior midfielder Kyle Revell, a second team all-league selection a year ago; senior forward Mikey King, who received all-league honorable mention; and junior goalkeeper Nick Norton, another honorable mention pick. Revell and King are team captains.

Coming off a season in which they landed a berth in the state water polo tournament, the Enumclaw High girls are reloading with a roster packed with first-time players.

Ken DeMan, who is coaching solo after 14 years of sharing duties with Bob Averill, notes that he has just five players with varsity experience.

Top returners include seniors Jessica Lee, a second team, all-league selection a year ago, and Tessa Valison, who received honorable mention. Also back in the water are senior McKenzie Invie-Johnson, junior Katie Norton and sophomore Gracie Smith.

Much of his team is experiencing water polo for the first time, “so we have a lot of coaching to do,” DeMan said. But he’s hopeful things will come to his squad quickly. “They’re a pretty smart group of kids and they sure work hard,” he said.

The competition format is different this season, DeMan said, with schools throughout the area being divided the largest programs (Division 1, like Curtis and Newport) and the not-so-big (Division 2, like Enumclaw).

The EHS squad opened the season Monday with a road trip to Puyallup High. Nothing else is on the schedule until a March 27 contest at Auburn.

It carries “club” status, meaning there is no school funding and the sport does not have WIAA-sanctioned, year-end tournaments. But lacrosse is said to be one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S.

Since 2014, Enumclaw High boys have played with the White River High School squad under. This year, however, state governing body forced a split of several clubs, including Hornets Lacrosse. The offshoot is that both Enumclaw and White River will be fielding their own teams.

Coaching the first-year EHS program is David Pugh. He is no stranger to either the game or the Enumclaw community, having played with the local organization and graduating from Enumclaw High.

“I had a great experience playing it growing up and I want to help grow the sport in the West,” he said.

There are obstacles any new program faces.

“Being a first-year team, we don’t have a ton (of experience),” Pugh said. “But we have enough guys that know what they are doing that they will be able to help teach and influence those who are still learning the basics of the game.”

Coach Rick Carel saw some key players depart due to graduation, but talent remains on the Hornet tennis roster.

Chief among those is senior Emily Miller, a first team, all-league pick following last season. Also back and boasting varsity experience are senior Emma McKeighen and junior Lauren Bone.

The Hornets travel today, Wednesday, to face Plateau rival White River and host league North Puget Sound League foe Auburn Mountainview Thursday. The team opened the spring season Tuesday with a home match against Todd Beamer.